TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 67/14 11.04.14
1. Eroglu accused the Greek Cypriot side of delaying
tactics for demanding to take up the convergence papers again
2. Ozersay: I don’t approve of revisiting the convergence
papers
3. Nami briefed NGOs and unions
4. Nami: The problem in the negotiating process
derives from the lack of political will; We have not discussed Varosha with
Rubin
5. Ozersay and Mavroyiannis meet yesterday at the Home
for Cooperation in the buffer zone
6. Ozyigit: “Don’t waste time and effort on agreed
upon issues”
7. Levent: The Turkish Cypriot political parties
contribute in the “isolation” of the Turkish Cypriots by boycotting the EP
elections
8. Kurds protest against the violence by the Grey
Wolves in the occupied area of Cyprus; Initiative by BDP towards the Turkish
Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs
9. TMT called on the cancellation of the Good Friday
mass in occupied Famagusta
10. Cavusoglu in the occupied area of Cyprus for a
series of contacts
11. Children’s Day will be celebrated with the
participation of students from 12 different countries
12. Fule: Events since December cast doubt on Turkey’s
EU path
1. Eroglu accused the Greek Cypriot side of
delaying tactics for demanding to take up the convergence papers again
According to
illegal Bayrak television (10.04.14), the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu has said that the Greek Cypriot
leader’s demand to take up the convergence papers again is a playing for time
tactic. “Anastasiades wants to discuss again the 77 page convergence papers
prepared by Alexander Downer. These
papers should not be ignored otherwise the negotiations process would be
further extended”, Eroglu said.
Eroglu, replying
to “BRT” correspondent’s questions on the Cyprus issue during a visit, said
that the “two peoples” on the island are in favour of reaching a solution in
Cyprus. Eroglu said especially the Turkish Cypriots believe that a solution
will be found to the Cyprus problem in the shortest period of time.
“The delaying
tactics of the Greek Cypriot side at the negotiations table would harm the
people’s belief in the solution process. By taking this into consideration we
are in a position to continue the negotiations by not ignoring the convergences
reached in the past”, Eroglu said.
Reminding that
the Turkish Cypriot side had put forward bridging proposals while the
negotiations process is continuing, Eroglu said ignoring these proposals which
were prepared with great effort would be a waste of time.
“Our desire is
to continue the negotiations process swiftly, to reach convergences on main
chapters by completing the screening process and to put forward written
proposals at the table. Following this we should move on to the give and take
process. Considering that an agreement cannot be reached without a give and
take process, the people’s hopes for a solution will be dampened if we don’t
begin the give and take process soon”, Eroglu concluded.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasi Daily News (online, 10.04.14) reported that
the technical committees working on the Cyprus issue will convene on Friday
afternoon in a meeting by Eroglu at his office.
According to a
press release by Eroglu’s office, it is reported that during the meeting
representatives from the so-called foreign ministry and other “ministries” will
also participate. The technical
committees will evaluate the recent developments and the focus of the meeting
will be on possible ways of increasing coordination between negotiating teams
and “government officials”.
2. Ozersay: I don’t approve of revisiting the
convergence papers
According to
illegal Bayrak television (10.04.14), the Turkish Cypriot negotiator
KudretOzersay, taking part in a program at “BRT”, evaluated the Cyprus
negotiations process. He said that currently all chapters had been discussed at
the Cyprus negotiations process. Explaining that after the change in leadership
in “South Cyprus” (editor’s note: the government controlled area of the
Republic of Cyprus) the Greek Cypriot side wanted to take up some other issues
during the screening process, Ozersay said that if the Turkish Cypriot side’s
proposal for the negotiators to meet twice a week had been accepted then the
meetings of the negotiators would have been concluded sooner.
Noting that he had come face to face with an issue
that brought him great concern during the last negotiators meeting, Ozersay
said that the Greek Cypriot side wanted to revisit some issues where
convergences had previously been reached.
“As soon as you revisit one issue, it has a
domino effect and the convergences that were reached within 6 years will be
lost”, said the negotiator. Explaining that this did not mean that the
negotiations process had come to an end, Ozersay said that they have begun some
initiatives to overcome the negative developments that have taken place.
“I can’t say that there is a crisis at the
negotiations table. There is a problem with the convergence papers but I can’t
say there is a crisis. I don’t approve of revisiting the convergence papers. After the screening process is completed then in order for the two
sides to reach the same point, an agreement must be reached on a common point.
For this to happen then both sides must propose things that they haven’t
previously proposed. This difference can be closed with proposals, counter
proposals and bridging proposals”, said Ozersay.
He added that
the Turkish Cypriot side wants to turn the screening process to the
negotiations which will also include the give and take process.
3. Nami
briefed NGOs and unions
According to
illegal Bayrak television (online, 10.04.14), self-styled foreign minister
OzdilNami gave a conference at the “foreign ministry” that was aimed at civil
society organizations and unions. He evaluated the “ministry’s workings”
towards the European Union and the latest phase reached on the Cyprus issue.
Referring to his
contacts in the US, Brussels, Strasbourg, Germany, Tehran and Guinea, Nami said
that his contacts had been very useful. Noting that the US saw a chance for a
solution on the Cyprus issue and wanted to allocate some time for this issue,
Nami touched upon also the importance of the EU during the Cyprus negotiations
process.
Expressing his view that the leaders meeting once a
month and the negotiators meeting once a week are creating distress at the
negotiations process, Nami said: “As the Turkish
Cypriot side, we expect an intensified period”. He said that as the “foreign
ministry” they aim to create an active dialogue with civil society
organisations by holding meetings at certain times in order to inform them.
On the same
issue, Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasi Daily News (online, 10.04.14)
reported that Nami also said that there
are question marks regarding the negotiations caused by the “procedure of the
process, the frequency of the meetings, Greek Cypriot’s past convergences
coming back, lack of calendar and Downer’s departure from the system”.
4. Nami: The problem in the negotiating process
derives from the lack of political will; We have not discussed Varosha with
Rubin
Turkish Cypriot
daily Havadis newspaper (11.04.14) reports that the self-styled foreign
minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus, OzdilNami has argued that the
problem in the negotiations for finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus
problem derives from the lack of political will on behalf of the Greek Cypriot
side.
In an interview
with Havadis, Nami said that the two leaders should meet, give the necessary
instructions and pave the way for the negotiations. Replying to a question Nami
alleged that some proposals submitted by
the Greek Cypriot side “are really their starting positions in the very past
years”. He argued that the Turkish
Cypriot side was disappointed and could not understand why the Greek Cypriot
side did not reply positively to the demand for intensifying the negotiations.
Nami claimed that the leaders’ meeting once a month and the negotiators’
meeting once a week is insufficient and alleged that the rejection by the Greek
Cypriot side to support the convergences documents formed until today
constitute “an important problem”.
Nami said that the Greek Cypriot side wants the European
Union (EU) to become one of the sides at the negotiating table but the Turkish
Cypriot side rejects this demand. He alleged that they could not see very
positively [the wish of] the Greek Cypriots to have the EU representative as a
side at the negotiating table, “a person from an institution of which they are
members and have a say and an influence in his appointment”.
Nami said that no pressure is exerted either from the EU
or from the USA for the opening of the occupied fenced off city of Varosha
prior to the solution. Replying to questions, Nami said that they have not discussed the issue of Varosha during the
US Assistant Secretary of State Eric Rubin’s recent visit to the island and
argued that there is no project by the
EU on Varosha and no interference by the USA.
He noted that the debates that are being held now concern
the possibility of whether some technical works “having the character of
preparations” could start before the solution. Asked what these
preparations are, he noted that they concern the condition of the buildings,
the infrastructure and the environment. Asked whether these technical works
could start, he argued that it is early to say this, adding that first we
should overcome this first stage of the negotiations and produce a really
positive result in order for the discussion of such issues to start.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Turkish
Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (11.04.14), Nami referred to the so-called Property Compensation Commission
established by Turkey in the occupied area of Cyprus and said that hundreds
of applications by Greek Cypriots have been submitted and compensation has been
paid to many of them. “For some of them
mutual exchange has been made, it has been a functional commission”, he
argued adding that after the economic crisis in the government-controlled area
of Cyprus, the applications submitted to the commission “exceeded our
expectations and anticipations”. “The
Greek Cypriots see this as an acceptable, just mechanism, this is very important”,
he alleged.
Referring to the territorial
adjustments in a possible solution of the Cyprus problem, he claimed, inter
alia, the following: “We cannot know from now which village, which territory
will be given to whom when the territorial adjustment will be made. However, the time that passes is turning this
adjustment into a more limited one. Ten years passed since the Annan Plan. The
TRNC made new infrastructures at the places where the Turks settled, the Turks
settled even more in those lands. It has become almost impossible now to make
such an adjustment. As time goes by, this possibility is decreasing…”
(I/Ts.)
5. Ozersay and Mavroyiannis meet yesterday at the
Home for Cooperation in the buffer zone
Under the title “There is no tension”,
Turkish Cypriot daily Realist newspaper (11.04.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot negotiator,
KudretOzersay and his Greek Cypriot
counterpart Andreas Mavroyiannis held yesterday a meeting, which the paper
describes as “social contact” and a “surprise meeting”.
The “secret
meeting” was held at the House for Cooperation in the buffer zone in Nicosia.
Realist correspondent reportedly saw the two negotiators “talking in a very
sincere manner”. Both of them told him
that contrary to what is written in the press “absolutely no tension exists
between the sides”.
In statements to Realist after the meeting, Ozersay
said that this kind of meetings are very important for overcoming possible
deadlocks in the negotiations and create a climate for “melting the ice”
between the sides. He noted that both he and
Mavroyiannis have met with the UN Secretary-General’s representative in Cyprus,
Lisa Buttenheim, adding that their yesterday meeting was a part of this “chain
of meetings”.
Ozersay alleged
that the Turkish Cypriot side is pushing for the negotiating process, but “it is difficult to say that the Greek
Cypriot side is in a hurry”. “However,
the climate is positive in general”, he added.
Referring to the so-called road map announced recently
by the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu, Ozersay said that the Greek
Cypriots have not rejected this road map as a whole.
He went on and
argued: “In the meeting I held with Mr Mavroyiannis, he told me that Mr
Anastasiades is positive for the cross-visits to Athens and Ankara and he could
respond favourably to a possible invitation by the esteemed UN
Secretary-General. They [the Greek Cypriots] see positively the bridging
proposals we have submitted. Of course, they are afraid of calling this process
as ‘give and take’, but these proposals constitute the basis of a give and
take. The main reservation of the Greek Cypriot side is the four-party meeting
we think of holding in June. Mr Anastasiades does not see this positively and
has reservations about it. However, when we look at the entire road map, it is
clearly seen that the Greek Cypriots have not turned on the red light to all
the proposals…”
(I/Ts.)
6. Ozyigit: “Don’t waste time and effort on agreed
upon issues”
Turkish Cypriot
daily KibrisPostasi Daily News (online, 10.04.14) reported that the leader of
TDP (Social Democratic Party) CemalOzyigit said that prior to more concise
issues of the Cyprus problem, the disputed ones should be solved. According to Ozyigit there is a crisis even
before the give and take process, which he says would require the time and
effort which might get wasted because of the crisis.
“The time and
effort should be spent for finding a solution. This is what people expect to
happen”, said Ozyigit.
Ozyigit also criticized the Greek Cypriot side for
“delaying the process by requesting all disputed issues to be renegotiated
instead of continuing the process that began after Downer’s 77 pages document
about these issues which were discussed for years.”
Ozyigit
suggested that instead of agreed upon issues, the ones that are unresolved
should have been on the agenda. “Especially the ‘Governance and Power-Sharing’,
‘Property’ and ‘Territory’ issues create disagreements. So, I call on both
leaders and the negotiators to focus on these instead of wasting time on the
topics that were already agreed upon”, said Ozyigit.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam (11.04.14) reports that Ozygit met yesterday
morning with the Italian Ambassador to Cyprus Guido Cerboni. During the
meeting, they discussed the latest developments on the Cyprus problem and
evaluated the upcoming European Parliament elections in May. DenizBirinci,
foreign relations secretary of the TDP was also present at the meeting.
7. Levent: The Turkish Cypriot political parties
contribute in the “isolation” of the Turkish Cypriots by boycotting the EP
elections
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper
(11.04.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot journalist
SenerLevent held yesterday a press conference at the premises of the Cyprus
Journalists’ Association in the government-controlled area of the island and
explained his views and the reason for announcing his candidature for the
European Parliament elections planned for the 25th of May, 2014.
“Cyprus is under occupation for 40 years and
this is why I am a candidate”, said Levent and criticized the foreign
policies implemented by the European Union, including its policy for Cyprus.
According to the
paper, the Turkish Cypriot political
parties, which concentrate on the local “elections” in the occupied area of
Cyprus and boycott the EP elections, contribute in the so-called isolation of
the Turkish Cypriots. It is also argued that the turn out in the EP
elections will be low because the Greek Cypriots will want to punish their
politicians for the existing economic crisis. If the Turkish side stops being
stubborn and decides to participate in the EP elections, writes the paper, the
Turkish Cypriots could easily take two seats in the EP.
(I/Ts.)
8. Kurds protest against the violence by the Grey
Wolves in the occupied area of Cyprus; Initiative by BDP towards the Turkish Ministries of Defence
and Foreign Affairs
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen
newspaper (11.04.14) reports that the Mezopotamya
Cultural Centre held a protest yesterday as regards the escalating violence and
the attacks [against Kurdish students in the occupied area of Cyprus by members
of the Hearths of the Ideal, known as Grey Wolves]. Some political parties
and organizations participated in the protest held in Kugulu Park in the
occupied area of Cyprus. Fascism was condemned and the brotherhood of the
peoples was emphasized during the meeting.
Citing information by the Turkish Yuskekova
news site, YeniDuzen writes that the
co-chairman of the Peace and Democracy party (BDP) in Turkey,
SelahattinDemirtas has been briefed by the self-styled prime
ministerOzkanYorgancioglu regarding the students of Kurdish originwho had been
attacked and taken into custody. It is also reported that the BDP will undertake the necessary
initiatives on the issue towards the Turkish Ministries of National Defense and
Foreign Affairs.
(I/Ts.)
9. TMT called on the cancellation of the Good
Friday mass in occupied Famagusta
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (11.04.14) reports that GozkamasErgunes, chairman of the fighters
association, asked the breakaway
regimenot to give permission for a Good Friday mass in the walled city of
occupied Famagusta.
In a written statement
signed by the “TMT Famagusta branch” and the “fighters association”, Ergunes
claimed that none Greek Cypriot has entered the church since 1957, claiming
that the planning mass that will be held at the Orthodox church on April 18,
has caused mourning among the residents of the occupied Famagusta. He also
condemned the fact that the so-called mayor of Famagusta Kayalp and the “head
of the religious affairs department” Atalay will also attend the mass and asked
not to give permission for this mass to be held.
10. Cavusoglu in the occupied area of Cyprus for a
series of contacts
According to
Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasi Daily News (online, 11.04.14), Turkish
Chief Negotiator and Minister of EU Affairs MevlutCavusoglu arrived in the
occupied area of Cyprus upon official invitation of self-styled foreign
minister OzdilNami.
Cavusoglu and
his delegation will hold meetings with the Turkish Cypriot officials where
mutual relations between two “countries” will be discussed, as well as, the
implementation of EU acquis Adaptation Program in the occupied area of Cyprus.
During his two
days visit, Cavusoglu will meet with the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu,
“government officials” and representatives of political parties.
Cavusoglu’s
meeting with Eroglu is scheduled to start at 10.30 am this morning and
immediately afterwards the Turkish Minister will meet with the self-styled
assembly speaker SibelSiber. Later, he will meet with self-styled prime
ministerOzkanYorgancioglu.
After completing
his contacts in the morning, Cavusoglu will meet with OzdilNami and then he
will attend a working lunch.Following the working lunch the Turkish Minister
will pay visits to UBP (National Unity Party) leader Huseyin Ozgurgun, DP-UG
(Democrat Party – National Forces) leader SerdarDenktas and TDP (Social
Democratic Party) leader CemalOzyigit. Cavusoglu will attend a dinner at Dome
Hotel occupied Keryneia, organized by Yorgancioglu.
On Saturday,
Cavusoglu will address a conference at the illegal Near East University (YDU)
which is jointly organized by Nami’s office.
After the
conference, Cavusoglu will meet with the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce
over a dinner. He will depart from the occupied area of Cyprus on Sunday.
11. Children’s Day will be celebrated with the
participation of students from 12 different countries
According to
illegal Bayrak television (online, 10.04.14), due to the 23rd of
April National Sovereignty and Children’s Day the self-styled minister for
national education Mustafa Arabacioglu said that for 16 years children from the
“TRNC” (editor’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus) had been taking part in 23rd of April celebrations in
Turkey, during a meeting with a delegation of children who will take part in
the 36th TRT International Children’s Celebration in Gaziantep,
Turkey.
Explaining that over 360 students from 12 different
countries are coming to the “TRNC” to take part in celebrations,Arabacioglu said that these celebrations were creating a platform
for children from different racial and religious backgrounds to come together.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu,
in a meeting with the delegation of children, said that the delegation had a very important role to play as they are representing
the “TRNC” abroad.
Self-styled
parliamentary speaker SibelSiber also met with the delegation of children and
expressed her belief that the children will represent the “TRNC” in the best
possible manner.
12. Fule: Events since December cast doubt on
Turkey’s EU path
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (online, 11.04.14) reports that events over the past three months have cast doubt on Turkey’s
commitment to European values and standards, European Union Enlargement
Commissioner Stefan Fule has said, while praising the “renewed momentum” in
bilateral ties.
The Commissioner
was speaking on April 10 during the 74th EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary
Committee at the European Parliament in Brussels, where EU Minister
MevlutCavusoglu also participated.
“As Commissioner for enlargement, I must
admit that events over the past three months have cast doubt on Turkey’s
commitment to European values and standards. Let me express the sincere hope that the next three months will prove
me wrong; that Turkey will fully re-engage in reforms which will bring your
country closer to the European Union; that constructive cooperation will
allow us to use the immense potential of our relations to the full,” Fule said.
The Commissioner
criticized new legislation that transferred significant powers over the High
Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) to the Justice Ministry. “This
development reverses a previous reform elaborated in consultation with the
European Union and the Council of Europe. The changes raise serious concerns
over the independence and impartiality of the judiciary and over the separation
of powers in Turkey,” he said.
Cavusoglu said Turkey is
ready to compare the new HSYK legislation to “best practices” in Europe, adding
that he won’t accept that “Ministers in
Europe don’t abuse their power but in Turkey they can,” warning the EU against
applying “double standards.”
Commissioner
Fule also slammed the “massive transfers of police officers, judges and
prosecutors’ during the graft probe”.
The new Internet
law, which has empowered the head of the Telecommunications Directorate (TİB)
with the authority to block access to web pages within four hours, was also
criticized by Fule.
“In the area of
freedom of expression, I regret that the new law on the Internet gives
arbitrary power to the TİB. The lack of sufficient protection or legal
safeguards of the affected parties is also worrying.” he said.
For his part, Cavusoglu said the restriction of social media in Turkey does not aim the freedom
of expression.
Meanwhile, Fule praised the opening of EU Accession
Chapter 22 on Regional Policy, as well as significant developments in the
area of justice and home affairs, including a visa liberalization dialogue,
cooperation on tackling irregular migration, and the signing of the readmission
agreement last year.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
